FOR THE LOVE OF REPTILES

REPTILE: a group of cold-blooded vertebrates that includes snakes, lizards, crocodiles (not kept as pets!), turtles, and tortoises. They have dry scaly skin, and typically lay soft-shelled eggs on land. I personally think that reptiles are the last living group of dinosaurs, as opposed to birds, as mentioned in my previous post (For the Love of Birds). But not according to any dictionary I’ve found!

WHY GET A REPTILE:

Reptiles are for those that want a pet a little out of the ordinary. When deciding to get a reptile, you want to make sure that you choose one that meets your needs. For instance, size, maintenance level and personality should all be taken into consideration. We’re talking snakes, lizards,, water dragons (which I thought were lizards), turtles, and tortoises.

A LITTLE ABOUT LIZARDS AND WATER DRAGONS:

A great reptile for beginners would be the Anole (we used to call them chameleons when I was a kid!). They usually live 5 or more years, and grow to about 8 inches long. Another good beginner would be the Bearded Dragon. They’re quite docile which allows for easy handling. They live for 10 years or longer, and grow to more than 24 inches long. Leopard Geckos also make nice pets. Apparently, they’ve got great personalities?! They can grow up to 8-11 inches long and can live as long as 15-20 years. Chinese Water Dragons require a little more care than lizards, and they require a tropical environment. They can grow from 2-3 feet long and have a crest that runs from the top of their heads to the tips of their tails. They have a life span of 12-20 years.

A LITTLE ABOUT TURTLES AND TORTOISES:

Turtles and tortoises are also reptiles. Turtles spend most of their time in the water, but should have some rocks to climb on to get out of the water. They’ve got webbed feet, which allows them to swim. They can grow up to 11 inches long and can live up to 30 years. The Tortoise lives on land. They have round, unwebbed feet. They can grow up to a foot long and can live 50 years or longer. You’re really in it for the long haul if you get a tortoise!

A LITTLE ABOUT SNAKES:

Snakes can be good pets, depending on the species. They’re usually pretty docile, as long as they’re handled properly. They can live from 15-35 years, again, depending on the species. And of all the reptiles, snake cages tend to smell the least, provided the cages are cleaned on a regular basis.

To be continued…please watch for my next article, which is scheduled to be published on Wednesday! Have a great weekend! Sign up for our newsletter (above), and hop on over and ‘Like’ my Facebook page!